# @bret_gornik on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ2LRTbugqH
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66972489-bret-gornik-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3fe063468d.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-21T12:13:22.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Bret Gornik (@bret_gornik) — https://gondola.cc/bret_gornik

## Caption

HYROX World Championships.
What a wild ride.
First, you have to qualify. 
Only the top 1% in the world get the opportunity. I was fortunate to qualify at three races this season.

Then, life happened.
We had a big family vacation planned in Prague, while Worlds were in Stockholm.
The mission? Figure out a way to do both.

The ambitious plan:
* 6:00 AM flight out of Prague.
* Layover in Amsterdam, flight to Stockholm (Landing 10:45 AM).
* Uber straight to the Strawberry Arena.
* Race at 1:50 PM.
* 7:00 PM flight back to Prague.
* Easy, right?
Not exactly.
The night before, jet lag meant I slept maybe 90 minutes. 
My first flight was canceled, rerouted through Munich, and delayed 90 minutes. I landed two hours before my start, jumped in an Uber, and made it to the warmup area with just 20 minutes to spare. And somehow… we were racing.

The race itself?
Far from perfect. I got my first burpee penalty ever, and I knew a sub-60 was gone. So I made a decision: Control what you can control.
Have fun. Be grateful. Have the best day ever.

Official Time: 1:03:53

The feelings afterward are equal parts gratitude and disappointment. Disappointed I didn’t break an hour or hit the goal I’d worked toward all season. But mostly, profoundly grateful. Grateful my body works, grateful my universe aligned just enough to get me to the start line, and incredibly grateful for my wife, my girls, and my family for making this ridiculous adventure possible.
But here’s the thing. I’ve I realize the finish line was never the point.
The process is the point. The early mornings, the workouts, the lessons, and the growth. The journey is the reward.
And honestly? That realization makes me more excited than ever. The story isn’t over. The work continues, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Have the best day ever.
#Hyrox #HyroxWorldChampionships #HybridAthlete #Gratit

## Stats

- **Views:** 4,164
- **Likes:** 417
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 38

## Tags

hyrox, hyroxworldchampionships, gratit, hybridathlete

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